240 
THE HORSE.-NO. 6. 
. THE HORSE.—No. 6. 
Our cut this month presents the hind quarter of 
the horse, which consists of the haunch, the thigh, 
and second or lower thigh. 
The Haunch. It is formed by three bones, the 
ilium, the ischium (or hip bone), and pubis. They 
are shown in the cut No. 11, February No., at u. 
The great point in the shape of the haunch is that 
the ilium should be quite oblique to the horizontal 
line of the body. If it be too near the perpendicu¬ 
lar line of the body, it makes the leg too straight 
and power of leverage is lost. Hence it is desira¬ 
ble that the tail should be placed well up, as there 
will he greater obliquity of the haunch. This ob¬ 
liquity affords the muscles a better direction for ac¬ 
tion. It is very important that there should be great 
width of haunch, that the muscles may have more 
surface for attachment, and thus be large. With a 
wide haunch, it will be found that most commonly 
are connected wide loins ; and if the ribs be round 
and come back well, there will be great strength. 
The Thigh. It consists of one hone inserted at 
its upper end into a socket in the lower part of the 
hip bones. It is oblique backwards. The thigh¬ 
bone has a rounded head, which is inserted into this 
cavity. The socket is very strong, as the three 
bones of the haunch are very firmly dovetailed to¬ 
gether. The ligaments, which hold the head of the 
thigh-bone in its appropriate socket, are all large 
and strong, and one of a remarkable character 
covers the whole joint starting from the upper sur¬ 
face of the cup (which is of course inverted), and 
passing down over the joint to the head of the bone 
just below the line or insertion of the head into the 
socket. This admirable joint, with its securing 
ligaments, makes it very difficult to dislocate or in¬ 
jure the thigh bone, at that point. The thigh bone 
is very large and strong, being short and thick. It 
has an uneven surface, and presents thus a greater 
opportunity for the attachment of muscle. The 
muscles that belong to it are numerous, and need 
great surface for attachment. Four of these attach¬ 
ing points are peculiar in the thigh. One is at the 
head, one on the inside, and two on the outside. 
The motion of the thigh is mainly in a right line 
backwards and forwards, when extended forward 
and carried back. It has, however, some lateral and 
rotaiy motion. 
The lower end of the thigh bone is peculiar, be¬ 
ing double-headed instead of single. It has two 
projections, which have corresponding grooves to 
move in, in the upper end of the leg bone. 
The joint formed by the union of the thigh bone 
and the leg bone is called the stifle joint. There are 
two shallow cavities or sockets in the upper end of 
the leg bone into which the double head of the thigh 
bone is inserted, and in which they move. There is 
a hollow in the front of the lower end of the thigh 
bone ; into this hollow fits, and through it moves a 
small bone similar to the knee bone of man. This 
small bone is called the stifle bone. It sets on to 
the stifle joint in front. Into the stifle bone are in- ! 
serted by tendons some of the strongest muscles of j 
the thigh, and continued over it to the bone of the 
leg. By this arrangement the stifle joint is greatly 
strengthened. In repose the stifle bone lies in its 
proper groove, but when the muscles act it is raised 
up and the line of direction of the muscles altered 
and their power increased by the increased angle 
made by the elevation of the stifle bone. 
The leg bone or bone of the lower thigh extends 
from the thigh bone to the hock ; it is formed of 
two parts, or is double ; the first and main part is j 
the bone of the leg; behind this and joined to it by I 
cartilage is a small bone of one third its length call¬ 
ed the splinter bone. The leg bone is oblique 
backwards, making an angle with the thigh bone. 
The leg bone should be long, as by greater length 
is got greater leverage. By it also will the mass of | 
the muscles of the part be increased, if properly de¬ 
veloped, and thus muscular power be enlarged. 
The muscles of the quarters are remarkable for 
their great size individually, and their mass as a 
whole. Under the skin they are covered with an 
outer and inner membrane, each of which is dense, , 
strong, and tendinous. The outer one reaches from 
the haunch to the hock, the inner one from the 
haunch to the stifle. Its purpose is to confine the 
muscle, in their proper places when in action. 
a. At a is seen the external buttock or glutceus 
muscle (so called by anatomists) in the centre of the 
external part of the haunch. It is triangular in 
shape, and is attached to the ilium above and to the J 
thigh bone below. 
c. Here lies the great buttock or glutceus muscle. 
It starts from the bones of the loins, is attached to 
the ilium and to the bone of the thigh, near its 
joint with the haunch. It constitutes the upper and 
outer part of the haunch, and gives fullness and 
roundness to it. Upon its full development depends 
the beauty and much of the strength of the haunch. 
